Tyler Sykes, Maryland Smith MBA Class of 2028
Age: 34
Hometown: Greenwood, IN
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Indiana University-Bloomington; BS in Business Management
Pre-MBA Work Experience: U.S. Army Officer, Gov/Military, Army Special Operations, 11 years
Why did you make the decision to attend business school? Why now?
After serving in multiple leadership capacities in the U.S. Army, I felt myself drifting towards a natural transition point. I knew I wanted to continue military service, but life changes and exposure to new interests shifted the route for how I would continue to serve. I’ve enjoyed every minute of being an Army Special Forces Officer. But injuries and high operational tempo forced me to consider other areas within the military in which I could provide value. I decided to transition to the Army Acquisitions Branch. This new role requires a deeper understanding of business-related topics, such as project management, financial analysis, accounting, and data analysis. The transition timing created an optimal window for me to pursue the Army’s Advanced Civil Schooling program, providing an opportunity for me to attend a graduate program of my choice as an active-duty assignment. I chose a Master of Business Administration program to best prepare me for the roles I will serve within the Army’s Acquisition Corps.
Why did you choose UMD Smith? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
I ultimately landed on UMD Smith for two reasons: program value and location. Speaking with the program faculty and alumni, it became evident early that UMD Smith’s full-time MBA program’s emphasis on experiential learning and Artificial Intelligence (AI) integration would best cater to my learning style and equip me with the tools to compete in an increasingly competitive workforce. Additionally, family played a significant role in my final decision. As a father of two and a spouse to a service member, I consider maintaining familial integrity and balance my utmost priority. I needed to find a university in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia (DMV) area to ensure our family stayed together. UMD Smith was the obvious choice, allowing me to continue prioritizing family cohesion while pursuing an incredible opportunity for educational growth and network development.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2028?
Over the last decade, I’ve been incredibly blessed to have had the opportunities to lead multiple diverse organizations within the U.S. Army. Military Officers are introduced early to the challenges of leadership, and inherently learn many lessons along the way. I’ve been lucky enough to have had incredible peers, mentors, and Soldiers who have taught me as much as I’ve taught them. My years of command experience in both garrison and deployed settings have exposed me to unique challenges, requiring dynamic thinking, cultural understanding, and team cohesion to accomplish our assigned mission. These experiences will allow me to share a unique perspective during classroom discussion, driving innovative thinking and shaping dialogue on small team management.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that didn’t get included on your application:
I’ve been a practicing musician since my youth, primarily playing the guitar. I’ve played in multiple bands and musical groups since college. In a world of constant stimulus and stressors, music has been my constant outlet to express my creativity, relieve stress, and push myself outside of my comfort zone. I plan to continue playing live music here in College Park, and also hope to resume volunteer instruction when time permits.
I also love chess. Like many others, I latched on to the game after watching the Netflix show ‘The Queen’s Gambit,’ and I haven’t looked back since. Two years ago, I joined a local chess club in North Carolina, which pushed me to compete in local and regional tournaments. I gravitate toward the strategic aspects of the game that force players to make decisions and adapt to the consequences. For that short period of time during a game, I can shut out the noise of the world and focus on the challenge right in front of me.
Post-MBA career interests:
Following MBA program completion, I will receive a new Army duty assignment as an assistant program manager at an Army Acquisition program office. I plan to continue my military service until I reach retirement eligibility (around 20 years of service), after which I hope to transition into the defense tech sector as a program manager or acquisitions consultant.
Advice for Current Prospective Applicants:
–What is one thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
I highly recommend taking an internal look to understand your individual goals, priorities, and learning styles, as they all factor into the calculus for targeting programs during the application process. After I became self-aware of my own differentiating aspects, I began routinely interfacing with both program alumni and faculty to learn and identify the programs that would best cater to my goals and personality. I would absolutely repeat. I’d recommend all aspiring graduate students do the same to ensure their landing spot provides the best individualized fit.
–What is one thing you would change or do differently?
Looking back, I would have started my application preparation earlier. Not all programs require standardized exams, but I decided to take the GRE to increase my competitiveness for program acceptance and scholarships. While I followed a dedicated GRE study plan, I did not factor in adequate time for retaking the exam. I unfortunately did not perform as well as I hoped on the first try, which forced me to cram and retake the GRE in order to meet submission timelines.
–What is one part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
I would have saved a lot more time had I skipped over the large pool scholarship applications. I applied for dozens of small figure scholarships, spending a ton of time that unfortunately yielded nothing. However, UMD-Smith generously awarded me a Smith Scholarship. I would have skipped over the scholarship applications that feel more like a lottery and focused that time on more program faculty interaction, better targeted scholarship pursuits, and exam preparation.
What is your initial impression of the UMD Smith students/culture/community?
The community here is top-notch. The faculty goes the extra mile to integrate new students and facilitate an outstanding curriculum. My class cohort exemplifies diversity in a way that adds true value to the group at large. It didn’t take long for me to feel like the University of Maryland was home.
What student organizations have you joined/are you hoping to join and why?
I’m already a member of the UMD-Smith Veterans group. I joined to stay connected with current and prior service members, so I can maintain the sense of military community while a student.
I plan to join UMD Smith’s IBC trading alliance to gain a more in-depth understanding of the financial markets to shape my own investing strategy.
What is one thing you have learned about UMD Smith that has surprised you?
My biggest surprise thus far is UMD Smith’s emphasis on not only incorporating responsible use of AI into instruction and coursework, but also offering numerous AI-based electives. It’s evident that UMD Smith promotes modernization, while also working to equip MBA students with the skills needed to compete in the modern workforce.
What is one thing you are most excited about in your first year?
I’ve always been a people person, so I’m most excited about the opportunities to connect with UMD Smith alumni and industry partners. UMD Smith’s Office of Career Services (OCS) and other university organizations host countless networking events throughout the year to connect MBA candidates with potential employers. While I’m not actively in the job hunt, I do understand the value of a strong network and appreciate the support UMD Smith provides to bridge those gaps and bring people together.
